“You bet your ass I am,” Devlin said.
Juan Domingo Argudin was becoming frustrated. Everywhere the American went he was surrounded by Cuban police. His men had followed the gringo to this neighborhood where all the big shots lived, only to find police surrounding the house he had entered.
The police seemed unusually alert, so Argudin decided to be cautious. He stationed his men at both ends of the block, far enough away to avoid suspicion, but positioned so at least one car could follow the American when he left again. His own car was a block and a half away, just close enough to detect any activity at the house. He knew an attack here was impossible. There were simply too many police. He also knew the American would not stay here indefinitely. When he left, they would follow, and sooner or later there would be fewer police. Then, he thought, they would have their chance, and the American would die. Then, finally, his pockets would be filled with ten thousand American dollars.
Martinez left his men behind to guard Adrianna when he escorted Devlin and Pitts to his waiting Chevrolet. He drove the four blocks to Cabrera’s house with the pedal pressed to the floor, the engine of the ancient Chevrolet whining like an angry cat. He was a madman on a mission, Devlin thought.
He turned to Pitts. “You think the major might be anxious to get this done?”
“I dunno,” Pitts said. He leaned over the rear seat. “You anxious, Major? You warming up your rubber hose?”
“It is a pleasure I have been looking forward to for many months,” Martinez said.
“Could cause a bit of a scandal, couldn’t it?” Pitts asked. “I mean two top guys mobbed up like this? A little government plan to let the wiseguys open a casino? A little side deal on narcotics?” Pitts tried to catch Martinez’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He wanted to give him an evil grin.
Martinez stared straight ahead. “It is possible, of course. It is also possible it will never be known here in Cuba.” He glanced at Devlin, a small smile playing on his lips. “It is different here, you see. Trials need only be public when it serves a greater purpose. Some matters that involve our government officials and our military can be handled more discreetly. It is a question of the nation’s morale.”
Devlin laughed. “That’s a great line, Martinez. I suppose you’ll want to swear us to secrecy.”
“But of course, my friend. That is exactly my hope. You may disagree, of course, in which case I am sure the government will decide that a public trial is necessary. But then you will all have to remain here as witnesses for the state. And these trials can take a very long time. There is also an additional problem. As you know, you have broken many laws in my country, which I am willing to overlook. But if others begin to investigate, this may not be possible-”
“Enough. Enough,” Devlin said. “I don’t care how you handle this. I just want to wrap this thing up, bury what’s left of Adrianna’s aunt, and get the hell out of here.”
Martinez stared straight ahead again, and Devlin thought the Cuban major was trying not to laugh.
“Ah, I hope I have not given a poor impression of my country,” he said. “The office of tourism would be very upset if that were the case. I am sure they would like you to remain and enjoy the many pleasures we have to offer.”
“Yeah, I’m sure they would,” Devlin said. “But I think I’ll get back to New York. People only try to kill me there about once a year.”
Martinez pulled his car to a stop in front of Cabrera’s house. Two of his men were waiting outside. He spoke to them briefly, then sent them away.
“No witnesses?” Pitts asked.
Martinez raised his eyebrows, feigning offense. “You are too suspicious, my friend. There are other men inside. I have sent these men to Guanabacoa, to make sure our forces are adequate to watch Senor Rossi.”
“Hey, that’s just what I thought you were doing,” Pitts said. He turned to Devlin. “Isn’t that what you thought, Inspector?”
“What I think is that we should get this thing over with.” He took Martinez by the arm. “But if you’re going to rough Cabrera up, do it when we’re not around. All I want is some answers, and whatever’s left of this woman’s body. Okay, Major?”
Martinez nodded. “It is understood. I promise you will have what you want. I also promise that you will not see my men and me touch even a hair on the colonel’s head.”
When they reached the front door, Devlin noticed that the mojo, or whatever it was, no longer hung from Cabrera’s door. He asked Martinez what had happened to it.
“It had to be removed,” Martinez said. “It was a very potent Palo Monte curse. Even my own men would not dare enter such a cursed house.”
“You gotta be kidding me,” Pitts said.
Martinez let out a long, tired breath. “No, my friend. I do not joke. Perhaps, before you leave Cuba, you will understand.”
They followed Martinez across the foyer and into a well-appointed living room. A young man stood next to a paneled door with a Russian assault rifle cradled in his arms. He was dressed in civilian clothes, but immediately snapped to attention as the major approached. Martinez spoke to him briefly, then turned to Devlin and Pitts.
“The colonel is in his study, contemplating his fate. Another of my men is watching him do this. I think we should join them and help the colonel understand exactly what his fate is.”
“Let’s do it,” Devlin said.
Martinez spoke to the guard in Spanish. Devlin couldn’t understand what was being said, but it seemed he was giving the guard detailed instructions. Then he opened the door. A second guard, also armed with an assault rifle, stood just inside. Martinez issued another set of instructions, and the second guard joined the first outside.
Cabrera was seated in a leather chair. He glared at the major, then launched into a diatribe in Spanish.
Martinez held up his hand. When he spoke his voice seemed unnaturally calm.
“You will speak in English, Colonel. As a courtesy to our American guests.”
Again, Cabrera rattled off harsh words in Spanish.
Martinez let out an exasperated breath. “I have assured these men that you will not be harmed in their presence. So you have a choice, Colonel. You may speak English now, or we will leave this room and send in the two men outside, who will convince you of the wisdom of following my orders. Then we will return, and you will speak English. Which do you prefer?”
“You dare to threaten me?” Cabrera spoke the words in English.
“That is very good, Colonel,” Martinez said. “And yes, I do dare to threaten you. As of this moment you are relieved of your duties. You may consider yourself under arrest, and whatever authority you enjoyed under the revolution is suspended indefinitely.”
Cabrera snapped out in Spanish.
“English, Colonel.” Martinez inclined his head toward the door, indicating his men outside. “I will not warn you again.”
“I said you have no right to suspend my authority,” Cabrera snapped.
Martinez walked to Cabrera’s desk and perched himself on its edge. “That is an argument you can make at a later date, Colonel. For the present, you will simply answer my questions, or you will suffer the consequences.”
“What crimes are you charging me with?”
Cabrera’s face was red with anger, and Devlin realized he was not frightened. The man had a lot of power, and he knew it, and Devlin wondered if what Martinez had on him would be enough, or if the major was overplaying his hand. This wasn’t the United States. It was a country that operated under a different set of rules, and Devlin had no idea what those rules were.
Martinez ignored Cabrera’s question. He looked around the room.
Devlin did the same. The study was richly furnished. The sofa, like the chair in which Cabrera sat, was covered in glove-soft leather. There was a wall of books, almost all of which appeared to be rare and presumably valuable. The desk also appeared to be an antique, as did several side tables, one of which held an array of small fig
ures that Devlin recognized as pre-Columbian.
“You live well, Colonel,” Martinez finally said. “But I imagine you would have lived an even richer life once Senor DeForio had deposited five million American dollars into your foreign bank account.”
Cabrera stared at him. The color seemed to have drained from his face. “It is a lie.”
“Then it is a lie that we have on videotape, Colonel.” He paused, letting the words sink in, then nodded. “Yes, the suite at the Capri Hotel was wired.” He waved his hand in a circle. “But, perhaps you and Deputy Minister Sauri were only luring Senor DeForio into a well-laid trap. Perhaps this trap also involved the assassination of Maria Mendez, and the later theft of her body at the request of the American gangster Senor Rossi.” He raised his hands, then let them fall back. “Of course, some might consider this theft of our Red Angel’s body an extreme technique of entrapment, but it would indeed be an interesting defense, would it not?”
Cabrera seemed to pull himself together. Again, his eyes took on a hard glint. “You believe you will defeat me this way, Martinez?”
Martinez stroked his mustache, as if considering the question. “You are already defeated, Colonel. You will receive a military trial for your crimes, and, as you know, the rules are quite different under those circumstances.” He turned to Pitts. “As I explained earlier to the inspector, in our military courts, evidence is presented by the state and is presumed to be correct by those who sit in judgment. The defendant is then required to prove his innocence.” He gave them his Cuban shrug. “He is not helpless, of course. He is given an attorney. But unfortunately, the attorney is not assigned until the very day the case is presented to the court, so the defense has a difficult task.”
“I like it,” Pitts said. “Who’s the judge, a kangaroo?”
Martinez smiled. “There are five judges. Three military officers and two civilians.”
“Hey, three kangaroos out of five. That’s not bad.” He turned to Cabrera and shook his head. “Sounds like you’re fucked, Colonel.”
Cabrera glared at him, then turned back to Martinez. “These American fools seem to have emboldened you, Martinez. Perhaps you should explain what will happen when your political frailties are exposed.”
“I doubt such exposure will occur.”
Cabrera let out a derisive snort. His eyes filled with contempt. He turned back to Devlin and Pitts. “Since you are so fond of Martinez, and his great powers, I will see to it that you all share the same cell.”
The major shook his head. “It is embarrassing to see you debase yourself in this way,” he said. “I hope you will show more dignity when you are brought before the military court.”
Cabrera straightened in his chair, his entire body filled with defiance. “And who will bring me before this court? You, Martinez?” His mouth twisted into a sneer. “And under what authority, if I may ask?”
Martinez leaned in close, so his face was only inches from Cabrera’s. He spoke softly-this time in Spanish. Devlin only caught a few words-presentar, jefe, departamento, tecnico, and investigacion-but the effect on Cabrera was instantaneous.
The colonel paled, and his lips and his hands began to tremble. Martinez sat back and folded his hands in his lap. “As you now realize, your trial is assured. But, perhaps, you can spare yourself the ultimate penalty, your execution. That, of course, will depend on your level of cooperation.”
Cabrera’s voice came out in a croak. “What is it you want to know?”
Martinez withdrew a voice-activated tape recorder from his pocket, placed it on the desk, and pressed the start button. He gave the time, place, date, and Cabrera’s name. Then he stood and began pacing back and forth. “First, let us begin with Dr. Mendez,” he said. “Who ordered her assassination?”
“I did.” Cabrera’s voice was barely audible.
“Please speak louder, Colonel Cabrera.”
“I did.”
“Was this at the direction of an American gangster named John Rossi?”
Cabrera let out a shuddering breath. “In part, yes.”
“Did it also involve certain information that Dr. Mendez had uncovered?”
“Yes.”
Martinez stopped pacing and again folded his hands. “Tell us about this.”
Cabrera’s arms were trembling now, and he clenched his fists to fight it off. “Dr. Mendez learned of the plan to permit gambling on the Isla de la Juventud. She went to the Ministry of Interior to express her opposition.”
“Was she also aware of the plan to allow narcotics to be shipped from Cayo Largo?”
Cabrera shook his head. “We did not know. She said nothing of it to Deputy Minister Sauri.”
“But you feared she might also discover this?”
“No.” He hesitated. “We did not know. We feared … Minister Sauri feared she would take the matter to the Comandante himself, and that further inquiries would be ordered, and that it might expose who the American investors really were.”
“So you decided she must be killed.” Martinez said it as fact, not a question.
“That she be silenced in some way, yes.”
“And is this the same reason you silenced Manuel Pineiro, our former spymaster?”
Cabrera became agitated. “That was on Sauri’s order, not mine.”
Martinez shook his head. “Very well, we will concentrate on what you did. How did Senor Rossi fit into this plan to kill the Red Angel?”
Cabrera placed his hands on his face and slowly drew them down. He looked up at Martinez. His eyes seemed to be begging him to stop.
“Answer my question,” Martinez snapped.
Cabrera stared down at his lap. “It came about at the same time,” he began. “Senor Rossi sent a messenger to Cuba, suggesting that Dr. Mendez be used in a change-of-heads ritual. He is a believer in Palo Monte. It is an old belief, from many years ago when he lived in Havana. The messenger said he wished to save himself from a grave illness.”
“And did he offer you money to do this?”
Cabrera nodded.
“Say the words, Cabrera. Do not nod your head.”
“Yes, he offered me money.”
“How much?”
“Half a million dollars.” Again, Cabrera’s voice came out in a whisper.
“Louder, please,” Martinez snapped.
“Half a million dollars.”
“And this was all that was required of you. That you arrange for Dr. Mendez’s death, and the theft of her corpse.”
Cabrera shook his head, then realized he should answer aloud. “No. He also wanted me to contact Senorita Mendez in New York, and to tell her of the accident in such a way that she would come to her aunt.”
“And then?”
Cabrera swallowed. “The messenger said an American man would undoubtedly accompany her, and that he was to be killed, along with the woman.”
“Both were to be killed?”
“Si. Yes, both.”
“And were you to be paid for this as well?”
Cabrera nodded again, then caught himself. “Yes. I was to be paid another half a million.”
Pitts let out a whistle.
Martinez held up a hand, warning him to be quiet. He began pacing again.
“So first you arranged the assassination of Dr. Mendez?”
“Yes.”
“And who did you give this assignment?”
“The Abakua who have worked for me in the past.”
“Their names?”
Cabrera rattled off a series of names.
“And these men, they used a truck to cause a car accident involving Dr. Mendez?”
“Yes.”
“And were these the same men who arranged the theft of our Red Angel’s body?”
“Yes. Together with a palero named Siete Rayos.”
“And they then took that body to Santiago de Cuba?”
“Yes.”
“Were you paid when that body was delivered?”
�
��Yes.”
Martinez went to the desk and picked up a piece of paper and a pen. He handed them to Cabrera. “You will write down the name and location of the bank, and the number of the account to which the money was sent.”
He waited while Cabrera complied, then continued.
“And were these same men who attacked Dr. Mendez, and who later took the corpse, the ones who later tried to kill Dr. Mendez’s niece, and the Americans accompanying her?” He paused. “And who attempted to kill me, as well?”
“Yes.”
Martinez stopped pacing. “You have done well, Colonel. There are but a few more questions.”
Cabrera looked up, a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. Martinez ignored it.
“Now we must turn to the attempt on the life of the palero Plante Firme,” Martinez began again. “Was this ordered by you?”
“Yes.”
“And why was that, Colonel?”
“Minister Sauri wanted the Americans gone, even if it angered Senor Rossi. He was afraid our plans were being placed in danger.” He looked away, then forced himself to continue. “Another body was located. A woman of the same age and physical size as Dr. Mendez. The body was stolen from a cemetery and burned to conform with Dr. Mendez’s injuries, and the head and hands and one foot were removed. These were to be found later in a nganga placed in Plante Firme’s home …” He paused. “After his death.”
“So he could not contradict your finding?”
“Yes.”
“And this assassination was attempted by two of your men, who have since disappeared.” Martinez gave him the names of two men.
“Yes. Those were the men. We have not been able to locate them.”
“But the assassination failed, did it not?”
“Yes, it failed.”
“And Plante Firme’s grandson was murdered in his place.”
“Yes.”
Martinez turned to Devlin. “Are your questions answered, my friend?”
Devlin nodded. “Except for the location of Dr. Mendez’s body.”
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